CAP@Your Service – Residents Issue – Summer 2008

Residents Forum Chair’s Message

Why are you involved in organized medicine? What aspects of your profession are enhanced by your participation in the CAP? How have you contributed recently to ensure a better future for yourself and your profession? Coming to the end of my term as chair of the Residents Forum, I cannot help but ask myself these questions. There is absolutely no doubt that my involvement within the CAP has given me ten-fold what I have invested. The following are just a few of the ways that the CAP has broadened my horizons:

1. I have had the immense opportunity to benefit from invaluable contacts with experienced pathologists. Without the CAP, I would never have had the opportunity to make these incredible connections.
2. The opportunity to work with a staff that goes above and beyond to meet pathologists’ needs…. and then some.
3. Through the Spokespersons Program, pathologists are able to reach out to the community and show people that we care beyond the microscope.
4. Through the Advocacy Program, pathologists are able to shape the governments’ perception of who pathologists are and, thereby, protect our patients and our profession.
5. My fellow resident colleagues are incredible, and I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to establish, foster, and solidify friends for life.
6. And last but not least, the uncountable resources that the College provides online such as the Career Center, practice management tools, etc. Wow, have I been fortunate.

The Residents Forum meeting on September 24 will mark its 20^th anniversary! How exciting is that? Please come and join us in San Diego. Register online today by going to www.cap.org and click the CAP for Residents link. There are so many exciting updates, such as the status of the fellowship application guidelines and the New in Practice Committee that the Residents Forum Executive Committee is looking forward to discussing with you at the meeting.

I would like to thank all of you who have provided such awesome leadership within the American Medical Association (AMA) and would like to encourage all CAP Junior Members to become members of the AMA, in addition to the CAP. To become an AMA member, go to www.ama-assn.org. Our membership within the AMA will further expand the influence that pathology has within the house of medicine and is essential to making our goals a reality.

Thank you for allowing me to serve as your chair. I am looking forward to seeing each of you in San Diego!

Jacqueline Granese, MD
Chair of the Residents Forum